Brake-operating mechanism.



No. 660,648. 3 Patented on. 30, I900.

.1. E. NORMAND.

BRAKE nrannme nzcnmsm (Applicntion filed m 29, 1590. (No Model.) I I 2Shaets-Sheoi l.

' WITNESSES 5 Tu: NORRIS Pzrzns c0. mom-un o. WASHINGTON. a. 42V

Patented Oct. 30, I900.

J. E. NORMAND. BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM.

(Apphcltmn filed July 29 1899 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

6 "WM I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. NORMAND, OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK.

BRAKE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660.648. dated October30, 1900.

Application filed July 29, 1899. Serial No. 725.453- \No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPE E. NORMAND, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of WVatertown, Jefferson county, New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-OperatingMechanism, of which the following is a specifica form of theoperating-lever, and certain new.

and useful details of construction and combination of parts to behereinafter more fully described.

The objects of my invention are to-secure a joint between the brake-beamand the brakeoperating lever which will be self-compensating, whetherfor wear of one brake-shoe over the other on opposite sides of a truck,thereby causing an unequal movement of the brake-beam horizontally, orfor the canting or tipping of the brake-beam from a variety of causeswhich are well known, to provide a simple and effective form ofequalizing device between two brakes on the same side of the car-truck,by such device permitting a proportionately-greater pressure to beapplied to one wheel than to the other, if desired, and to simplify andrender more effective the operating mechanism and working parts. Iattain these objects in a device which I will now proceed to describe inthe following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings,forming a part thereof, and will then point out the novel features inclaims.

Figure 1 represents a top view of one-half of a truck fitted with abrake mechanism e mbodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side view,partially in section, of the same, certain parts being removed andothers broken away to better illustrate the invention; and Fig. 3 is adetail sectional view of an improved connection between the brake-openating lever and the equalizing-lever.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Reference character 4 designates the frame of a truck fitted with myimproved brake, and 5 6 designate the truck-wheels. In the particularform of truck here shown the wheel 5 is of larger diameter than thewheel 6.

7 designates a brake-operating lever constructed in the form of abell-crank lever. The said lever comprises a long arm 8, rigidly securedto a steel shaft 9, rotatablymounted upon the frame 4, and a shortarm 10at about right angles thereto, also rigidly secured to the said shaft 9.

11 designates a compressed-air cylinder provided with a piston, to whichone end of the long arm 8 of the operating-lever is attached.

tend to apply my invention I do not wish to be limited to such use, asmy invention is applicable to brakes of all kinds.

13 14 designate brake-beams, 13 being arranged to carry brake-shoes 15and 14. to carry the brake-shoes 16. As only one-half of the truck ishere illustrated, only one shoe 15 and one shoe 16 are shown; but it isof course understood that there are corresponding shoes on the oppositeends of the brake beams 13 14 for corresponding wheels 5 and 6. Thereare also, preferably, another operating-lever 7 and another cylinder 11,with its appurtenances.

The brake-beams may be swung. or suspended from the truck-frame by linksor otherwise (not shown) in a manner well known and needing no furtherdescription.

The brake-beam 13 is connected to the brake-beam 14 by means of anequalizing-lever 18, secured at one end to a connectingrod, in turnsecured to the beam 13, and at the other end to a lug 19, riveted to thebrake beam 14. The short arm 10 of the operating-lever bears against theequalizing-lever would be applied midway of the equalizing lever. In theparticular truck to which the brake is shown as applied it is not sodesired. The wheels being very much larger than the wheels 6, it isdesired to apply a very much greater pressure upon the brake-beam 13than upon the brake-beam 14. The point at which the pressure is appliedto the equalizing-lever is thus very much nearer to the point at whichthe said lever is connected to the brakebeam 13 than the point at whichit is con- "nected to the brake-beam 14, andjustin proportion to theleverage accruing therefrom is the resultant pressure upon the'brakeQbeams. As here shown,-the proportion'is aboutas three is toseven.

Between the short arm of the operatinglever 7 and the equalizin'glever'18 is arranged a universal-joint connection. trated more fully in theenlarged detail sectional view, Fig. The end of the said short arm 10 isprovided with a round nose or ball end 20, which engages witha'socke't2l, with which the equalizing-lever 18is provided. The socketis cupped to receive the ball end or nose 20 of the arm 10, and thetwopieces fitted together permit a universal movement of the brake-beam"relatively to the equalizing-lever. To maintain the two piecesinfintimateconn'ection and to prevent accidental displacement thereof, Ihave provided the arm 10 with a pin or pins 22, extending on either sidethereof, and the socket-lpiece 21 with flanges 23, arranged on eitherside of the'arm 10 and having slots 24, 'throiigh which the pin or pins22 pass. Thisconn'ection will form a support for the equalizing-(Illuslever and the connecting-rod 17, but will not interfere with theperfect working of the universal joint while the brake is beingoperated.

What I claim is 1. In a brake mechanism, the combination with aplurality of brake-beams, an equalizing-lever connected to said beams,and an operating-lever adapted to apply pressure to saidequalizing-lever, of a universal joint interposed between saidequalizing-lever and said operating-lever, and means independent of thesaid universal joint. for supporting the said equalizing-lever from thesaid operating lever.

2. In a brake mechanism, the combination with a plurality ofbrake-beams, an equalizing-lever connected to said beams, and anoperating-lever adapted to apply pressure to said equalizing-leveiy'of aball-and -socket connection between said equalizing-lever and said.Q'perating-lever, and a pin-'and-slot conne'ction between saidequalizing lever and said operating-lever independent of theballand-socket connection, for the purpose of in-(1epehdently'supporting said equalizing-lever from saidoperaling lever.I In a brake mechanism, the combination with a plurality of brake-beams,of an equalizing-lever connected to said beams and an operating-leveradaptedto apjplypressure directly to said equalizing-1e ver, the saidequalizing-lever provided with a socket-piece rig idly secured theretobut capable of adjustment thereon, .the'said socket-piecehaving aspherical recess, and the said operating-lever having a sphericalprojection adapted to engage with the said spherical recess.

I "Signed by me a'tNew York, N. Y. this 26th day of July, 1899.

7 JOSEPH E. NORMAND.

Witnesses:

FRANK H. Oo'rHREN, ALBERT K. NEWMAN.

